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Avian Flu Preparedness The California Dept. of Food and Agriculture, Animal Health Branch
Illegal Fireworks Task Force Results
07/05/2006

FRESNO, CA (July 5, 2006) – Last night’s illegal fireworks task force utilizing a joint pro-active fire and police response proved to be a success. While the Fresno Fire Department’s calls for service more than tripled during the 4 th of July holiday, citizens sustained no major injuries, or property loss as result of use of fireworks.

Please take a moment to review the below statistics from last night’s task force:

Task Force Results:

  • Fresno Police Officers and Firefighters issued 53 illegal fireworks citations during last night’s operation, and made one arrest for probation violation.
  • The Fresno City Fire Department responded to 35 calls for active fires. This is more than triple the average number of calls received for fire response on a typical day.
  • The Fresno Police Department received 530 Firework Related calls for service for the week from 6/27-7/5. There were 215 calls for service for illegal fireworks between Midnight 7/4/06, to the early morning hours of 7/5/06.

Fireworks Facts :

  • Nationally in 2003, an estimated 2,300 reported structure or vehicle fires were started by fireworks. These fires resulted in 5 civilian deaths, 60 civilian injuries, and $29 million in direct property damage.*
  • In addition, 100 people were killed in a Rhode Island night club fire ignited by the indoor used of pyrotechnics in a small, crowded room with wall linings that promoted rapid flame spread. The facility had no sprinkler protection.
  • In 2004, 9,600 people were treated at hospital emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries. Burns were the leading type of fireworks injury (62%). Contusions and lacerations were second (20%), and were equal in share to burns when the injury was to any part of the head or face, including the eye. Hands or fingers were the part of the body injured in 33% of the incidents. In 21% of the cases, the eye was involved; other parts of the face or head accounted for 21% of the injuries.
  • Children aged 5-9 face the highest risk of fireworks injuries. In 2004, 55% of people injured by fireworks were under the age of 20, with 40% of the injuries incurred by those under age 15. The highest injury rate relative to population was for ages 5 to 9, with 2.2 times the risk for the entire population.
  • Males accounted for three-fourths (75%) of fireworks injuries.
  • From 1998 to 2002, eight people per year, on average, were killed in fires started by fireworks. Six people per year, on average, were killed directly by fireworks.
  • In 2003, fires started by fireworks caused $58 million in direct property damage to structures.
  • Based on the amount of time and quantities in use, fireworks pose a higher risk of fire death than any other consumer product. Although cigarettes are the leading cause of fire death, the risk that someone will die from fire when fireworks are being used is three times the corresponding risk when cigarettes are burning.
  • On Independence Day in a typical year, fireworks cause more reported outdoor fires in the United States than all other causes of outdoor fire combined.
  • Five states ban the use of fireworks by consumers (DE, MA, NJ, NY, and RI). The other 45 states and the District of Columbia permit some or all consumer fireworks.

Source: National Fire Protection Association

To view the Fresno Fire and Police Public Service Announcement, please refer to our website @ www.Fresno.gov/Fire.

RANDY R. BRUEGMAN
FIRE CHIEF
621-4000

KEN SHOCKLEY
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
999-7227